What are These Pitcher Parents Smoking??

In the last couple months I've talked to two parents of 14U pitchers who have told me that their DD's are now hitting 60. Now I understand this is possible but in both of these cases I GUARANTEE these girls are not breaking 55 and I'd be shocked if it was more than 53 on a regular basis. I've seen them both pitch. They are small thin girls who just turned 13 and have decent bowling mechanics that look like they are both in the process of naturally converting to I/R.

Do they just have crappy radar guns? are they rounding up as in 56 rounds to 60 and she hit 56 one time on a walk through? And also who would just drop this in conversation?? I tell you what if my DD ever hits 60 I'm just going to sit there and look like the cat that just swallowed a canary and I won't have to say a word because everyone will be able to tell.

Pitching parents for the most part are idiots, who cares about 60. My 13YO is in the low 70s.

A lot of dead time at games and it is a common interest, I enjoy listening but don’t believe most of what they say. 

Maybe they clock them throwing down hill with the wind.

Or they have grandpa's radar gun.

We play 14U. This is my second time through the age. This past weekend we faced an exceptional thrower. Guess she would be 5'-9" and likely 165. She was the fastest we've faced this year (3 tourneys in) and I have entered some of the states best ASA events. She is not even in high school yet! I asked mom what she is hitting. Mom humbly said she has hit 61 - 62 (that's not her cruising speed) so guess what...parents think their DD is hitting 60 but they are not and they are not seeing it on any gun. Think about it, many D2 and D3 college athletes never hit 60 and they are full grown women who probably played pretty high level travel. Don't sweat it, if it doesn't look exceptionally faster than the 14U upper average it ain't close to 60.

lhowser said:

We play 14U. This is my second time through the age. This past weekend we faced an exceptional thrower. Guess she would be 5'-9" and likely 165. She was the fastest we've faced this year (3 tourneys in) and I have entered some of the states best ASA events. She is not even in high school yet! I asked mom what she is hitting. Mom humbly said she has hit 61 - 62 (that's not her cruising speed) so guess what...parents think their DD is hitting 60 but they are not and they are not seeing it on any gun. Think about it, many D2 and D3 college athletes never hit 60 and they are full grown women who probably played pretty high level travel. Don't sweat it, if it doesn't look exceptionally faster than the 14U upper average it ain't close to 60.

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I totally agree with what you're saying!! I have seen an NAIA pitcher who could hit 60 up close and personal and I've seen in person two of the TOP HS pitchers in our state who both hit 60. And I thought I was going to fall over when that came flying toward me. These sweet little girls are seriously hitting LOW 50's just a touch faster then my DD and I don't know who they think they are fooling.

I love the speed conversations but it's nothing like asking them how many pitches they throw.

It's not unusual to hear they can throw 8 or more pitches. I then ask my daughter, who catches, and she just rolls her eyes and says "I'd just be happy if she hit her spots".

For many parents, myself included, our knowledge of what our kids are doing come from watching You Tube videos and what other players are doing.

Apparently 50 is the new 60 and throwing over the catchers head is a rise ball.

We had a guest pitcher once that was a legit 60-62 on our orgs 14U team. I saw her pitch a game and she was close to unhittable, one of the moms of the regular pitchers said something like "I don't know what the big deal is, my girl throws 68 and no one makes a big deal about it". 68....at 14u....
That being said, my almost 13 year old throws 60*



*using a run through, and a baseball.......

HA! I have to listen to one that claims her daughter is hitting 65 and throws 12 different pitches.... If she is throwing 50, I'd be amazed. I won't even touch the amount of pitches. When she drills me about my kid, I just say, "she throws fast enough and has as many pitches as her pitching coach thinks is necessary." Then just smile and nod, smile and nod.....

Had a 10U parent tell me just last week their 10 yr. old just hit 62.

Sigh.

Sweet Lou said:

Maybe they clock them throwing down hill with the wind.

Or they have grandpa's radar gun.

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LOL! Let me take a "stab" at this one....